Navy.
All the world in a gray hull.
- Frigate Bayern in calm sea, Caribbean, 2001
- Corporal Martin Klier, Background: HNLMS "Jan Van Nes", Atlantic Ocean 2001
being there
Becoming a seaman has been a dream of my youth, and at an age of 20 I made it real. German military offers all volunteers the chance to join the naval forces. Twenty-one months of my two-year-commitment have been enlisted service aboard the submarine hunter Frigate "Bayern" (Fregatte Bayern
), division 400 (logistics department), unit 410 (spare parts).
Today, my feelings about the time in the Navy are exactly the same as they were at the time of my final disembarkation in Toulon, years ago: It had been a good decision to join the armed forces, to join the Navy. But it was right to leave after the two years, having a good job offer in civilian life.
I'd do it again, in exactly the same way.
ports visited
| port | country | operation / comment | year |
| Wilhelmshaven | Germany | port of registry | 2000-2001 |
| Neustadt/Holstein | Germany | fire / leakage exercises & training | 2000 |
| Stavanger | Norway | FORACS | 2000 |
| Plymouth | United Kingdom | BOST / FOST | 2000 |
| Willemstad | The Netherlands Antilles / Curacao | DESEX CTG 501.01 | 2001 |
| San Juan | US Dominion / Puerto Rico | DESEX CTG 501.01 | 2001 |
| anchored | US Virgin Islands | DESEX CTG 501.01 | 2001 |
| Charleston | USA, South Carolina | DESEX CTG 501.01 | 2001 |
| Sta. Cruz de Tenerife | Spain / Canary Islands | DESEX CTG 501.01 | 2001 |
| Plymouth | United Kingdom | STANAVFORMED | 2001 |
| Palma d. M. | Spain / Majorca | STANAVFORMED | 2001 |
| Souda Bay | Greece / Crete | ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR | 2001 (6 times) |
| Toulon | France | STANAVFORMED | 2001 |
career
| date | event | location |
| 1999/07/01 | Commitment for 2 years of enlisted service | Center for naval recruiting Wilhelmshaven |
| 2000/01/03 | Boot camp | 4th Inspection of Naval Supplies School |
| 2000/04/01 | Promotion private | List / Isle of Sylt |
| 2000/04/02 | Joining ship's complement of F217 Frigate Bayern | Naval arsenal Wilhelmshaven |
| 2000/07/01 | Promotion private first class (PFC) | Port of Wilhelmshaven |
| 2000/10/01 | Promotion corporal Port of Plymouth/UK | |
| 2001 Jan-Apr | DESEX 2001 | Caribbean |
| 2001/04/01 | Seaman's service award grade III, bronze (Seefahrerabzeichen Stufe III, Bronze) | at sea |
| 2001 Sept-Dec | STANAVFORMED 2001 + NATO operation "Active Endeavour" | Mediterranean Sea |
| 2001/12/18 | Final disembarkation | Port of Toulon/France |
| 2001/12/31 | End of enlisted commitment | at home |
| 2003/01/03 | German military deployment medal (Einsatzmedaille der Bundeswehr) for NATO operation "Active Endeavour" in the Mediterranean | Ostmarkkaserne Weiden |
- Frigate Bayern on the pier, Sta. Cruz de Tenerife
